Getting closer to new chapters! For now, REPOSTING my original story to update and edit.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own TWILIGHT or DWTS.
EPOV
I followed behind Bella into her old house, my lips still burning again from the kiss to her forehead. It seemed to be my thing with her, first at the airport and now here, in front of her father's house: the chief of police. Oh hell. What am I getting myself into?!
Bella continued walking into the house leaving the door open for me, so I closed it securely behind me. When I turned, I saw a well loved home. Sure, things were a little in disarray and disrepair, but it was lived in and comfortable. You could also tell that it was a man's home. It didn't have feminine touches anywhere. I had a feeling that when Bella moved back, she didn't do much to change the ambiance. I began wondering what her room must have looked like. Not that you would ever get the chance to see that, right, Edward?
I heard noises coming just up to my left and I walked towards them. As soon as I left the dark and masculine entryway, I entered a room filled with sun. Well, not really, but it was a much brighter room with sun-colored cabinets. I felt cheerful as I entered, but that could have just been due to Bella's presence. I could see her moving things from the counters, rearranging items, moving to the fridge, back to the sink, and so forth. It was slightly maddening and against the calm and peaceful vibe of the kitchen's look.
"Bella? What are you doing?"
She stopped what she was doing and spun around so fast that she looked as though she would end up dizzy from it. Had she really forgotten that I was here with her? What an impression you've made, Ed.
"Well, I didn't exactly get a chance to really tidy up when I rushed out of here earlier, and I certainly didn't think I'd be having company, so I'm just trying to clean things up a little." That beautiful blush was back on her skin as she spoke. She was flustered and embarrassed and I thought she was the cutest thing in the world. Down boy! I had to take a deep breath. This was getting out of control quickly. I needed to pull back and reassess the situation and what I wanted from it.
As if I really knew what I wanted…besides Bella.
I walked forward to Bella and held her shoulders so she wouldn't go back to flitting about the room.
"It's fine. Really. Besides, what's the point in cleaning everything when we'll have to go back and redo everything once lunch is over?" I seemed to have gotten her there. The kitchen wasn't spotless but it certainly wasn't dirty. There were about two items in the sink, but we'd be adding to it shortly. And why would we want to put things like plates away when we would be using them? I was trying to be practical.
"Um, I guess you're right. Sorry," she said sheepishly. I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled. She needed to relax. Her stomach growled again and we both cracked up. That helped.
"So, what is for lunch? I don't want your stomach to implode, so we best be putting some sustenance in there," I teased while poking her lightly. She jumped quickly away from me and shielded her stomach. Ticklish? I'll file that tidbit away for another time.
"Well, I was making grilled cheese with tomatoes before…so I have everything ready for that, if that's ok with you?"
"Sounds great, but how about I cut those tomatoes?" I wasn't going to allow her to use a knife in front of me for a long time, just to be safe. I didn't want her to lose any digits.
She just smiled and nodded, pointing over to the knife block to choose my weapon. When I returned back to her she had placed a cutting board and a fresh tomato on the counter. I watched as she found bread, cheese and butter from the fridge and brought it beside me before leaving again. I noticed she was preheating a pan on the stove. I turned to the red fruit in front of me and began to slice away.
I felt Bella coming up behind me before I saw her. I just knew she was near me. I felt the electricity in the air when she was near me now. I wondered if that would ever go away. I hoped not.
She saddled up to the counter beside me and silently began buttering one side of each piece of bread. Even with the bandaged hand, she worked easily and very comfortably in the kitchen. Sure, it was just buttering bread for grilled cheese, but she looked relaxed. I took pleasure in sharing this with her. Who knows when I'd be able to do this with her again.
I finished the slices at the same time as she was ready with the bread. I followed her over to the pan and watched as she began to assemble the sandwiches.
"Tomatoes?" Turning to me, she asked for the cutting board, and turned back to the stove. When she was finished, I snuck the cutting board back from her and headed over to the sink. Placing everything in there with a splash of soap, I turned on the water and found the stopper on the window ledge in front of me using it to plug up the drain and allowed the tub to fill with water, shutting the faucet off once the sink was filled.
"Edward? Can you get two plates from the dish drain next to you and bring them over?"
I did as Bella asked and brought two plates over just as she was pulling the golden sandwiches from the hot pan. They looked great, as simple as they were, and I couldn't wait to sit down with one.
Leaving the pan on the stove to cool, Bella motioned for me to take a seat at the table behind me, so I took our plates and set them down. I watched her walk over to the fridge and put away the remaining bread, butter and cheese. She pulled out a can of soda, silently asking if I would like one, to which I nodded and she pulled out another to match.
I realized that very few words had been uttered during the entire cooking process, but we really didn't need them. I felt so attuned to Bella. Maybe a little too tuned in, but I couldn't help it. Everything about her drew me in and I couldn't shut it off, even if I wanted to. But I didn't.
Bella joined me at the table with the two sodas, but I stayed standing until she was fully seated. I took my seat and dug in. I couldn't help the contented sigh that escaped me as I bit into the sandwich. A small giggle next to me reminded me that I needed to thank the cook.
"This is great, Bella." I opened my soda and took a sip.
"Oh, you know…grilled cheese is such a hard dish to master," she said so seriously that I almost snorted the soda from my nose. I recovered but just barely. That would have burned so badly. I hadn't done that since I was a kid and I wasn't aiming to do it again. "But, I really think the tomatoes make the sandwich. You were probably right in cutting them yourself."
"Yeah," I countered. "Less Sweeney Todd that way."
Bella took a beat then busted out laughing and her laugh was so contagious that it was easy to join in. I felt so light, lighter than I had felt in years. I almost remembered what it felt like to really laugh again. Though I didn't want to admit that Alice was right, Bella really was good for me. She helped me feel so light and carefree. I hadn't felt like that in years.
Maybe I could talk to Bella about what happened. Maybe it would do me a lot of good. I know Bella wanted to know, but she also wanted me to go at my own pace. Maybe stepping up and taking this leap was healthy for me. I really wanted to keep Bella in my life somehow and I couldn't help thinking that if all I could take was friendship, so be it. Friends talked to each other and I really could see us being friends for a long time. I just wished we could be more as well. One step at a time, Edward.
We finished off our sandwiches with the occasional chuckle and I took Bella's plate for her when she was done. Standing up, I made my way to the sink for the purpose of dishwashing, but I heard the scrapping of a chair against the floor and a small warm hand grip my bicep lightly.
"Edward," her voice said, giving me the chills as it reached my core. "You don't need to do that."
"But, you can't do it," pointing out that she had a bandaged left hand. "So, please let me, as a thank you for letting me join you for lunch." I could see she was mulling it over and seemed resigned to my decision.
"Fine, but hand me the dishes when you're done and I'll at least dry them." I could hear her mumbling under her breath, something about me being stubborn and being a guest. I smiled inwardly to myself. She was a little tiger kitten: small fragile exterior that had a temper and the desire to take on the world. Adorable.
With so few things to wash, including what was already in the sink, it wasn't long before I was handing Bella the final dish. I knew my time with her was logically coming to an end. She would have work to do, like she had mentioned on the plane, and I would go home and try to stay away from her the rest of the weekend. I was starting to sound stalkerish. Not good.
"Bella, I…"
"Edward…"
We both stopped quickly, realizing we had begun to speak at the same time.
"You first," I said with what was probably a sheepish grin on my face. I'm not sure what exactly I was going to say, but I'm sure it would have been too soon and too embarrassing to be saying at the present time.
"Oh, well…I just wanted to thank you," Bella started to say as the blush crept back into her cheeks. "You were such a help to me in the hospital earlier and making sure I got home safely. You really didn't have to, but it was really…nice. So, thank you, I guess."
"You're very welcome."
Silence.
I could hear the wind rustling through the trees outside. I could hear creaking throughout the wooden floors in the house. I could even hear Bella's breathing. But neither one of us would speak. I needed to end the silence. Apparently she had the same idea…again.
"Hey…"
"You know…
Bella's giggle echoed slightly in the kitchen and it filled my heart.
"You first this time," she said. I guess I wasn't getting out of putting my foot in my mouth this time. Think of something intelligent…
"Um, how's your hand?" Not awful.
"Oh, it's ok. I think the painkiller your father injected me with is starting to wear off though." I winced slightly when she said father but I didn't want to dwell.
"And your head?" I still felt awful about that. I know we were both at fault for the head bump, but apparently I've got a forehead of steel compared to her porcelain one. She raised her hand to her head as if she had forgotten it was there. She cringed when her finger came in contact with the goose egg I had given her and it felt like I had been punched in the gut. I did that to her.
"Um, still tender. I think I'm going to run upstairs to get some aspirin. I'll be right back." And with that she turned to head upstairs.
I could only nod at her, even though she was no longer looking at me. If I opened my mouth, I probably would have reintroduced my lunch. I was such an ass! I hurt her. I promised that I would look out for her, protect her, and I turned around and hurt her. No, not on purpose, but it didn't lessen the blow. I needed to get out of here, away from her. I shouldn't be in her life. I shouldn't be her partner in this competition. I was in over my head. I was falling in love with the wonderful woman and I was causing her pain.
"Edward." Bella's voice floated down to me from the stairs and I looked up, realizing I had moved towards the door but she remained on the steps. "Please don't go."
I took a breath. Her eyes were drawing me in and I found myself walking back to her.
"I won't. I promise." I meant it. I wouldn't leave unless she ordered me away. I couldn't run from her. I wouldn't survive without her in my life in some capacity. Damn Edward, that's a little melodramatic.
With a wisp of a smile, she turned and headed upstairs, leaving me alone in the entryway. I wandered through the small house. It wasn't like I would get lost. I found myself in the living room where there was a well worn recliner, a small wooden coffee table covered in fishing magazines and tv guides, and a mantle full of pictures.
Upon further inspection, the pictures were all of Bella at varying stages of her life. There was one of a much younger Chief Swan than I had ever seen holding a small bundle in his unsteady looking arms. There was a picture of probably a three-year old Bella cringing away from a fish that her father was holding. The school pictures jumped from year to year but there wasn't another true snapshot of Bella outside of a photographer's lens until Bella looked to be in high school. She was gorgeous and so unaware of it. You could just tell in the way she carried herself. In this picture she looked carefree in front of that monstrosity that she called a truck.
I followed pictures and framed newspaper clippings off the mantle and up on the wall. All of Bella's college and publishing accomplishments. It was obvious that her father was so proud of her. I wouldn't doubt that his office boasted a lot of the same things, not that I was keen on seeing his office anytime soon to prove myself right.
"Charlie clipped out everything he could find when my first book was published." I nearly jumped out of my skin and clutched my chest. I never heard her coming back down.
Bella's hand rubbed my back while she asked if I was alright. I just shook my head in an affirmative motion while I restarted my heart. The heat from her hand relaxed my muscles from their tense state and I never wanted her to stop touching me, but I knew it wouldn't last forever as she removed her hand.
"He's proud of you. Even I can see that." I responded with the matter-of-fact statement. She nodded glumly.
"I know and I love him for it, but I just wished he would let me do something for him in appreciation of everything he's ever done for me." I looked at her questioning what she was talking about. She took a breath and continued.
"He's been a good father, even if he didn't know how to be one at times. He had been on his own for so long when my mom left with me that it was a bit of a wake up call for him when I returned. But, he filled the role well: giving me the space I needed as a teenager but still looking after me as a father should. He would change my tires when they were worn down or when it was getting icy, made sure my homework was done, and picked me up from the hospital when I had hurt myself time and time again.
"But now that I'm on my own and making a decent living for myself, I want to pay him back for being there. I want to get him a new house, but he won't accept it. He doesn't want me wasting my money, but honestly, it's not about the money. He won't ever leave this house. He still hasn't moved on from my mother. They bought this house together when they were pregnant with me."
Understanding started to fill me as I realized what she was talking about.
"When my mother left, my father never recovered, and I never pushed for him to, but now…" She faltered. Then she swallowed thickly and continued. "She's moved on, but he can't do it. I don't want him to go off and date random women, but I want him to move beyond the past. I think letting go of this house might help…but what do I know."
Bella's head was down and I could hear her sniffling. I couldn't have that. I reached under her chin and raised it so her eyes would meet mine.
"Bella, you can't force your father to move on, but I think it's wonderful that you want him to. It shows how much you care for him, but this is something he has to do on his own when he's ready and maybe he never will be." She gave a sob. "Hey now, no crying. You are a great daughter for wanting what's best for both of your parents but you can't please everyone."
Tears welled up in her eyes again and I could tell that they were a long time coming. This had been bottled up in her tiny body for some time and the floodgates were about to be released. I was a masochist, so I quickly pulled her into me and held her tightly against my chest as she cried out everything.
I gently rubbed her back and whispered comforting words, hoping both would help. She grew quiet slowly and her breathing was becoming steady again. The grip she had on the back of my shirt loosened slightly, but she didn't let go. I grinned while my chin was on top of her head. I got her back in my arms and my heart soared. Sure, I didn't want her upset, but I got her back in my arms.
"Oh geez, Edward, I'm so sorry," she blubbered out trying to escape my grasp. "I didn't mean to let go like that. You didn't need to hear all that craziness and gosh, I cried all over you. I'm so sorry."
"Shh." I gently pulled her face into my hands and had her look me in the eyes again. "It's fine. Really. You needed to have a good cry so you did. No harm done. Do you feel better?"
"Actually, yes. Thank you, for listening, being a shoulder to cry on…literally. I really appreciate it." Her blush was a brilliant magenta. She was so embarrassed and some was a residual side effect from the flushed crying session.
"Good," and I was lost again in her eyes. They were waterlogged and slightly red but still beautiful. She was beautiful. Before I realized it, I was drawing her face into mine. I wasn't going to stop. I had to kiss her and I was fully admitting it. I wasn't going to stop unless she stopped me but she wasn't resisting. I stared at her lips and she stared at mine. I was a few inches away from my goal and I could feel my heart throbbing against my chest so hard that I thought my ribs would hurt later.
RING
Bella and I jumped back from each other so quickly that if you blinked you would have missed it. I couldn't figure out where the noise had come from.
RING
I looked around and found the offending noise coming from my pocket. My phone. I would kill whoever it was.
Alice.
She would so get it later and not even Jasper would be able to stop me, no matter how much he loved my sister.
"What?" I barked into the phone. I was livid.
"Oh, am I interrupting something?" The damn pixie was psychic, I swear. Not that it matters, because I would still be killing her later. She could see it coming for all cared.
"YES!" I yelled back.
"Oooh, testy. Must have been something good." She had the audacity to laugh.
"Alice, give me one good reason not to…" she interrupted me.
"You promised to help me with Mike this weekend. Now, I've been fairly patient here at the house waiting for you, but no more buster. You said you would be here, so I don't care what you do to get yourself here, but you get here and soon!"
I exhaled loudly. I had a mind to go back on my word after what she had just pulled, but I knew I promised her. I looked back over at Bella and she had gone back to looking at the pictures on the mantle. I didn't want to leave her, but Alice would never let me hear the end of this if I backed out on her…even after I slaughtered her.
"Yes, Edward. You can bring Bella, too." How the hell does she do that?! "Besides, it might help her as well. Now get your butt home!" And with that she hung up.
"Is everything alright?" Bella asked from across the room. I just looked up and smiled at her while I put my phone back in my pocket.
"Yeah. That was Alice. I actually have to go back," and with those words I thought I saw her eyes lose some of their luster. "I don't want to, but I promised her prior to even agreeing to this trip that I would help her with her partner, Mike."
"Oh…that makes sense. Well, thank you again for looking out for me earlier. You'd better get going. I'm sure Alice is a handful when she wants something," she said with a half-hearted laugh. She was sending me away. Damn Alice!
I nodded glumly and started to show myself to the door and then remembered Alice's set of words to me.
"Bella, why don't you come with me? You can see Alice again, which I'm sure she'd love, and you can watch and hang out…and give me a reason for not killing my sister for roping me into this." I pleaded with her to say yes. I wanted to show her where I grew up the latter half of my life.
She seemed to think it over but hesitated on giving me an answer. I knew it was make or break time and I wasn't thrilled that it was taking so long. My insides were churning. I felt like I had asked the most popular girl in school to the prom and I was just a lowly nerd. I lost all of my self-confidence and the only way I would get it back was if she said yes. She had to say yes…
"I would love to, Edward, but I probably should get to work on the editing I need to do this weekend. I've gotten so far behind and I'm sure you really don't need me there to just take up space and get in the way."
Well, there it went; my self-confidence just went out the window and left for good. I was crestfallen. I had been turned down and I felt so lost. I wanted Bella to be with me, but it wasn't going to happen.
"Oh, yeah, no problem. Just thought I'd ask, but you can still come if you change your mind, ok?" I knew she wouldn't change her mind, but I needed to sound nonchalant and seem a little less desperate than I currently felt.
She nodded. That was it. She was going to stay and work and be fine without me while I suffered with the energizer bunny and the witless wonder. I loved my life. Why did I do this again?
I finished the distance to the door and placed my hand on the knob and looked back at Bella one more time. It would probably be the last time I would see her before Monday's rehearsal back in California. She hadn't moved. I let out a small sigh, opened the door and stepped out onto her porch, securely shutting the door behind me.
I just stood there. I didn't move for probably a minute. I was grateful the Chief didn't have a windowed door so Bella couldn't see me still standing there. She had said no. Of course, deep down I knew she would always end up saying no to me. Better for something small like this instead of waiting until later on, when I would hope to ask her to dinner or on a date or to marry me. Get a grip!
When my brain started to function again, I started down the small set of steps to the driveway. I fumbled for my keys and ended up at the car, looking back once more at the front door, willing it to open, and then unlocking and stepping inside the car.
I hit my steering wheel hard with my forehead as I tried to remove her face from my brain, looking at me with what had to be pity. No matter how many times I hit my head, her image wouldn't leave it and as much as it hurt to start thinking about how she and I would probably never be, I didn't want to lose her.
Turning on the car I thought I heard a yell. I couldn't figure out what the sound could have been as I checked my cd player and found it off. I heard the noise again and looked up. Bella. She was yelling at me. She was yelling for me! She came barreling out of the house and I immediately jumped out of the car.
"Bella?!" Was she hurt? Did I forget something? I couldn't get my hopes up for anything more.
She practically jumped off the front porch steps and I saw her start to lose her balance as she landed. Running forward I grabbed her before she hit the ground and held her close to me. I quickly pulled her back from me slightly so I could examine her.
"Are you alright? What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, I promise. I just…changed my mind." Her smile lit up her whole face.
"About what?" Her smile was catching and I held my breath as she answered my question.
"I'm coming with you," she said simply.
I think I could die a happy man right now…she said yes.
I hope you liked this chapter. It's a shorter one but the next is a fairly lengthy Bella chapter, with Alice, Mike, Esme, Carlisle and Edward revealing some history about himself. Check it out!
